News Archive

"Exceptionally Embarrassing" [2]

Politics and media ignored protests and celebrated the Pope

2011/09/26

It was the largest church-critical demonstration that has ever taken place in Germany: Approximately 15,000 people took to the streets in Berlin on September 22 to protest against reactionary dogmas, discriminatory sexual policies, and unconstitutional privileges of the Catholic Church. There was also massive resistance at the other two stations of the Pope's visit to Erfurt and Freiburg. In leading German media, however, the loud protests were mentioned only marginally if at all. Instead they celebrated the Pope's speech in the German parliament as an "intellectual major event", even though Benedict XVI dug out long disproven positions before the parliament, which in the end amount to the abolition of secular legal norms.

Relaunch of the Great Ape Project [3]

On the website greatapeproject.de, animal rights activists explain why great apes should be granted basic rights

2011/08/22

The Great Ape Project (GAP) is a showcase project of the international animal rights movement. Following the award of the gbs Ethics Prize to the GAP initiators Paola Cavalieri and Peter Singer three months ago, gbs adviser Colin Goldner took over the post as GAP coordinator in German-speaking countries. His first "official act": Supported by the Giordano Bruno Stiftung, the Albert Schweitzer Stiftung, the Tierschutz-Stiftung as well as the associations "Menschen für Tierrechte", "Tierrechte aktiv" and "Die Tierfreunde", he launched a website that provides information on the goals and strategies of the Great Ape Project.

Curiosities from Austria [4]

Pasta strainer as religious headgear, holiday bonus for Catholics only

2011/07/13

Niko Alm, representative of the Giordano Bruno Stiftung in Austria and chairman of the Austrian Zentralrat der Konfessionsfreien (Central Council of the Denomination-Free), has made an absurd case of the Austrian regulation that only religious headdresses may be used on driving licence pictures: As a supporter of "Pastafarianism" and member of the "Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster", Alm had his picture taken with a noodle strainer on his head and submitted it to the authorities. After being summoned to an official doctor who confirmed that Alm was able to drive, and three years of hesitation on part of the authorities, the Viennese entrepreneur was now able to pick up his new "Holy Driver's Licence".

Discussing Instead of Defaming [5]

Giordano Bruno Stiftung invites disability activists to joint event

2011/06/09

After awarding the Giordano Bruno Stiftung's ethics prize on the premises of the German National Library in Frankfurt, the gbs directorate withdrew its demand for resignation to the Federal Government Commissioner for the Disabled. Instead of taking legal action against CDU politician Hubert Hüppe, the gbs proposes a joint discussion event with Hüppe and other disability activists, which should help to clear up misunderstandings.

Signal for Animal Rights and an Enlightened Culture of Debate [6]

gbs defends the award to Paola Cavalieri and Peter Singer

2011/05/31

Markus Kurth, spokesman for disability policy at Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, criticized the award of the Giordano Bruno Stiftung's ethics prize to the initiators of the Great Ape Project, Paola Cavalieri and Peter Singer, as a "false signal". The gbs directors object: The awarding of the ethics prize is "exactly the right signal at the right time" - not only to raise awareness about the concerns of the animal rights movement, but also to defend the "principles of an enlightened culture of debate".

Is the Giordano Bruno Stiftung "Anti-Disabled"? [7]

Statement by gbs directorate

2011/05/30

Prior to the award ceremony for the initiators of the Great Ape Project, sporadic accusations occurred that the gbs represented "positions hostile towards the disabled". Not only referring to the "reputation" of Peter Singer, who was awarded the "Ethik-Preis der Giordano-Bruno-Stiftung" alongside Paola Cavalieri for his animal rights activism, but also to the "PGD expert opinion of the gbs Ethics Commission", which recommends a liberal legal regulation.

On the Debate Surrounding Peter Singer [8]

Statement by Michael Schmidt-Salomon

2011/05/26

The decision to award philosopher Peter Singer the "Ethik-Preis der Giordano-Bruno-Stiftung" in Germany was met with incomprehension or even indignation by some people. Didn't Peter Singer encourage the killing of disabled children? Or was this just a bad misunderstanding? Michael Schmidt-Salomon tries to shed light on the issues.

Ethics Prize for Paola Cavalieri and Peter Singer [9]

Ceremony for the initiators of the Great Ape Project at the German National Library in Frankfurt

2011/05/13

The Italian philosopher Paola Cavalieri and the Australian philosopher Peter Singer receive the "Ethik-Preis der Giordano-Bruno-Stiftung" endowed with 10,000 euro. The award ceremony will take place on Friday, 3 June 2011, at the German National Library in Frankfurt am Main. Cavalieri and Singer are honoured in recognition of their commitment to animal rights, in particular the initiation of the Great Ape Project (GAP).

gbs Ethics Commission Recommends Admission of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis [10]

2011/02/16

As a general rule, all people who choose the arduous path of artificial insemination should have the possibility of PGD. This emerges from a statement by the Giordano Bruno Stigtung's ethics committee, which was delivered today to the members of the German Ethics Council.

Slow Separation of Church and Judiciary [11]

gbs criticizes religious influence in German courts

2011/02/02

German courts should maintain a greater distance from religious communities. This is the result of an "open letter" by the Giordano Bruno Stiftung (gbs) to the supreme judicial authorities of the country. The letter was sent in response to an "expert discussion" between judges of the Federal Constitutional Court (BVG) and a delegation of the German Bishops' Conference that took place in January 2011.

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